Consent means actively agreeing to be sexual with someone. Sexual activity without consent is rape or sexual assault. The attitude around sexual coercion is alarming, tending toward a lack of appreciation for the importance of obtaining consent before performing a sexual act. Increasing criminalization of spousal rape is part of a worldwide reclassification of sexual crimes “from offenses against morality, the family, good customs, or chastity … to offenses against liberty, self-determination, or physical integrity.
India remains one of the countries where it is not a crime for a man to rape a woman — as long as they are married. “According to Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, forced sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, who is not under 18 years of age, does not count as rape.”
Ruhi Singh becomes the voice of victims of domestic abuse, urges fans to take a stand against it. Former beauty queen has raised her voice in support to help women facing domestic violence. She talks about the raising domestic violence during this current pandemic where marital rape is a huge problem which remains unnoticed. 1 in 3 men admit to raping their wives, and It is a crying shame that even after so many years marital rape has not been criminalized in our country.
In order, to spread awareness about the ongoing issues of domestic violence, the former beauty queen made a short film called “THAT NEIGHBOUR’S WIFE” directed by Kristy De Cunha which highlights the facts wherein, Violence is not a part of any marriage, bond, or union. An average of 1 out of 3 women would have experienced some sort of violence (physical or sexual) from sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Marital rape is not okay, domestic violence is not okay—we can’t continue to normalize these crimes.
Laws are rarely being enforced, due to factors ranging from reluctance of authorities to pursue the crime, to lack of public knowledge that sexual intercourse in marriage without consent is illegal.
“I believe domestic violence and marital rape is something we have to be vocal about because a lot of women out there have become prisoners inside their own house. Let’s face it, this situation is pretty serious and these topics are still taboo in our society and is extremely crucial to stand against it,” says Ruhi.
The charade of “log kya kahenge, log kya sochenge” (what will people say, what will people think) is the biggest problem which has buried so many voices before even it goes out of one room. Everyone should take a step, take a decision, because marital rape is not okay, sex without consent is not okay (in or outside of the marriage), IT IS JUST NOT OKAY. Not all violence is visible. Nor is violence, subject to class or gender.
Ruhi wants to educate everyone about the universal signal for help: a discreet symbol that can help victims in need of rescue. If you are a victim of Domestic Violence in any form, USE THIS SIGN AS A DISCREET COVERT SIGNAL IN A VIDEO CALL to family members or friends, leaving no digital trace of the same.
#SignalForHelp:
Watch the short film “THAT NEIGHBOR’S WIFE”:
